Project Manager, Engineering
Salary

Engineering Project Managers in the United States with more than 10 years of experience in their profession represent a little more than half of Engineering Project Managers. Salaries average out to around $84K per year and spread from $57K to $131K per year. In the world of Engineering Project Managers, total cash compensation can vary between $57K and $131K. Each package generally includes bonuses and profit sharing proceeds, and in exceptional cases, those amounts can reach heights of $15K and $10K, respectively. The most important factor affecting compensation for this group is the particular firm, followed by experience level and geography. Most Engineering Project Managers like their work and job satisfaction is high. Medical benefits are awarded to almost all, and a fair number earn dental coverage. There are far more male Engineering Project Managers survey respondents than women, making up 87 percent. The information for this snapshot was generated by responses to the PayScale salary survey.

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

Common Career Paths for Project Manager, Engineering

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Though some Engineering Project Managers move into positions like VP of Engineering (where the average salary is $153K), this progression is not the norm. The most common career progression for Engineering Project Managers leads to becoming an Engineering Senior Project Manager, where average pay is $116K annually. However, many Engineering Project Managers also opt to become Civil Engineers. Typically, a Civil Engineer brings home $60K.

Project Manager, Engineering Job Listings

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Popular Employer Salaries for Project Manager, Engineering

The Boeing Company, Jacobs Engineering Group Inc, Civil and Environmental Consultants, Inc., CH2M Hill, and HDR, Inc. are top-notch employers for Engineering Project Managers in this area. Schlumberger offers the largest salaries in town ($133K on average), but the considerable range in workers' salaries creates a rather varied pay scale that stretches from $101K to $188K. Other leaders in compensation levels are Jacobs Engineering Group Inc at $128K, Chevron Corporation at $127K, and Lockheed Martin Corp, where Engineering Project Managers annually earn $119K.

With a reported median salary of only $73K, Civil and Environmental Consultants, Inc. easily takes the cake for lowest-paying firm in town; earnings are just about half of the top paying company's median. Other low-paying employers include Kleinfelder Incorporated at $80K and HDR, Inc. at $86K, though some Engineering Project Managers there earn up to $161K.

Popular Skills for Project Manager, Engineering

This chart shows the most popular skills for this job and what effect each skill has on pay.

Survey takers working as Engineering Project Managers report using a large range of professional skills. Most notably, skills in Systems Engineering, Budget Management, Product Development, and Contractor Management are correlated to pay that is above average, with boosts between 7 percent and 14 percent. Skills that seem to negatively impact pay include AutoCAD, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Office. Those educated in Engineering Design tend to be well versed in Budget Management.

Pay by Experience Level for Project Manager, Engineering

Median of all compensation (including tips, bonus, and overtime) by years of experience.

For many Engineering Project Managers, more experience generally translates to higher pay. Survey participants with less than five years' experience pocket $68K on average, but those with five to 10 years of experience enjoy a much bigger median of $83K. On average, Engineering Project Managers make $95K following one to two decades on the job. More than 20 years of experience mean a somewhat bigger median paycheck of $109K, but it's not much more than what less experienced people make.

Pay Difference by Location

Surpassing the national average by 25 percent, Engineering Project Managers in Houston receive some of the highest pay in the country. Engineering Project Managers will also find cushy salaries in Los Angeles (+13 percent), San Diego (+5 percent), Seattle (+3 percent), and New York (+3 percent). Falling short of the national average by 13 percent, the area with the worst salaries is Cincinnati. Two other places where employers offer below-median salaries are Salt Lake City (6 percent less) and Austin (2 percent less).

Project Manager, Engineering Reviews

What is it like working as a Project Manager, Engineering?

Project Manager, Engineering in New York:

"It Is 60% Scheduling, 20% Client Relations And 20% Technical."

Pros: The best things about my job are the environment which is very open and friendly. It is in midtown Manhattan, ideal location. The clients all have technical backgrounds so even if there is something you don't know or can't remember, someone will enlighten you. Engineering is very important to know because it allows you to work within teams from other departments as well since our work ethic is regarded highly. I am able to go from location to location to conduct some of my work, which breaks the monotony of going into the office every time.

Cons: There are a lot of limitations to project scopes. There are some actions that can be done, but company policy dictates that it shouldn't, so you end up discussing with clients for long periods of time trying to find a reason that would satisfy them. A lot of scheduling will overlap, but you still need to maintain the budget and timeline.

Project Manager, Engineering in Sedro-Woolley:

"Challenging."

Pros: It's mentally challenging and always new. Every project is different and there is no opportunity to become bored.